The recent incident at a Bengaluru theatre during a screening of actor and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay ’s Jana Nayagan has brought that question sharply back into focus. Videos of fans bursting firecrackers inside a packed cinema hall went viral, triggering a debate over the increasingly dangerous lengths to which some fans go to celebrate their favourite stars. What may be seen by some as an extraordinary expression of devotion can, in an enclosed space filled with hundreds of people, quickly become a serious safety risk.



The first-day-first-show experience in South India is rarely just about watching a film. For millions of fans, it is a ritual — one that begins well before the opening credits, with banners, giant cut-outs, drums, dances, fireworks and elaborate celebrations. But when the line between passion and recklessness begins to blur, the very fervour that makes South India's fan culture unique can also put lives, property and public safety at risk.




The Tamil phenomenon: Where films become an expression of 'star' love


Tamil cinema has one of South India's most organised fan cultures. For stars such as Rajinikanth, Vijay, Ajith Kumar and Suriya, fan clubs often go beyond film celebrations, organising blood donation camps, medical aid, food distribution and other social initiatives. However, extreme fandom has also raised concerns over crowd management and safety.



Kavya Pushpa, a member of the Online Thalapathy Fans Club (OTFC) Girls and Vijay's political party, says fans often struggle to contain their emotions. She says, “I've set clear boundaries for myself, but for many, putting up cut-outs or bursting crackers is an expression of love, and it's not always possible for us to stop them. When we ask them not to, they say, ‘It's his last film. We won't get to celebrate like this again.” She adds that she was unaware that a theatre seat had been damaged during celebrations in Tamil Nadu, but questioned why things had to go that far, adding that theatre owners ultimately bear the cost of repairs. “These kinds of unruly celebrations have reduced considerably. During the release of Beast, things were far more chaotic. Fans have become much more responsible now,” she says.



The scale of fan celebrations, however, means theatres are increasingly having to prepare for large crowds and ensure that celebrations do not compromise safety. Ankitha Prakash, a multiplex owner in Chennai, says, “We knew there would be huge crowds because that's always the case with Vijay sir's films. Our biggest precaution was deploying adequate security and working closely with the police, as there wasn't much else we could do.” She adds that around 60 police officers were stationed at the theatre from 7am until the final show, while thorough entrance checks were conducted to prevent anyone from carrying items that could damage the property.




Telugu cinema: When hero worship becomes a spectacle


Telugu cinema has a deeply entrenched culture of hero worship, with stars from NTR and ANR to Chiranjeevi, Pawan Kalyan, Mahesh Babu, Prabhas, Allu Arjun , Jr NTR and Ram Charan commanding extraordinary loyalty. Major releases can resemble festivals, with fans travelling to theatres, decorating cut-outs, performing paalabhishekam, bursting crackers and dancing.



The December 2024 premiere of Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2: The Rule at Hyderabad's Sandhya Theatre showed the tragic consequences of uncontrolled crowds when a stampede following the actor's arrival claimed the life of a woman and critically injured her young son. The incident sparked scrutiny over the responsibility of stars, fans, theatres and organisers.



For fans, however, these rituals are deeply emotional. “People think we do paalabhishekam or burst firecrackers just for attention, but for us it’s an emotion,” says Rakesh Goud, of the Kukatpally Allu Arjun Fans Association, recalling how around 150 fans gathered before sunrise for Pushpa 2, turning the release into a shared celebration. “The excitement isn’t just about watching the film; it’s about sharing that moment with people who have grown up admiring the same actor.”

Mahesh Babu fan M Kiran Reddy says re-releases evoke the same passion, recalling fans recreating scenes during screenings of Khaleja and Athadu. However, he admits some celebrations can go too far, citing videos of fans bringing snakes to recreate a scene from Khaleja. “Celebrations should be fun but also safe,” he says.




Kannada cinema : Passion meets responsibility


Kannada cinema's fan culture is deeply rooted in the legacy of Dr Rajkumar, whose relationship with audiences went beyond stardom. That emotional connection continues with stars including the late Puneeth Rajkumar, Upendra, Darshan , Sudeep and Yash. The immense public grief following Puneeth's death in 2021 demonstrated how deeply a star can become part of people's lives.



Fan associations, however, say they also have a responsibility to ensure celebrations remain safe. Shyam Gaja of the D-Boss Fans Association says crackers are never burst inside theatres during film releases. “Inside the theatres, if there are any celebrations, we use only flowerpot-style sparklers without flames or excessive smoke. Even when we use blasters, they contain only coloured paper and do not involve any kind of flame,” he says, adding that event management companies handle such arrangements.

Naveen Gowda, state president of the Akhila Karnataka Kiccha Sudeepa Sena Samithi, says fire-related items are not permitted inside theatres. “We can set boundaries and limits,” he says, adding that crackers and milk abhishekam are restricted to outside the theatre. His association also encourages fans to channel their passion into social work, organising food and donation drives during film releases, Kannada superstar Sudeep's birthday and other occasions.



Despite such efforts, Kannada cinema has witnessed release celebrations that have raised safety and public-order concerns, with large crowds, firecrackers and traffic disruption sometimes becoming difficult to control. The challenge is to preserve the passion while ensuring celebrations do not endanger fans, theatre-goers or the public.




Malayalam cinema's realistic approach towards reel stars


Malayalam cinema has traditionally had a somewhat different relationship with stardom. While the industry is known for its emphasis on content and performance, it also has deeply loyal fan communities. Fan associations of stars such as Mammootty and Mohanlal have long celebrated releases while organising charity drives and welfare initiatives.



Compared with Tamil, Telugu and Kannada cinema, Malayalam fandom has generally been less associated with towering cut-outs and elaborate theatrical spectacles. Yet its emotional intensity remains strong. As social media expands the reach of fan culture, Malayalam stars too command increasingly visible and organised communities, showing that passionate fandom can take different forms across South Indian cinema.




The good side of fandom

For all the criticism surrounding extreme fan behaviour, organised fan clubs across South India have also been involved in:

Blood donation camps

Food distribution

Medical assistance

Educational support

Relief work during floods and natural disasters

Support for underprivileged families

Tree-planting and environmental campaigns

Birthday charity initiatives

Assistance to fellow fans in need




What responsibility can fan associations take?

Ensure celebrations happen outside theatres, not inside packed auditoriums

Manage crowds responsibly

Discourage fans from climbing cut-outs or other structures

Ensure roads and public spaces are not unnecessarily blocked

Prevent harassment and intimidation

Encourage responsible use of social media

Prioritise charity and social work




- Inputs from Gopika IS, Roopa Radhakrishnan and Shrestha Mukherjee